Ecosystem Kongsfjorden: new views after more than a decade of research

Wiencke, Christian; Hop, Haakon

doi:10.1007/s00300-016-2032-9

Cited by 40 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Glacial melting at inner Kongsfjorden coincides with sediment influx, thereby increasing light attenuation (Piquet et al, 2014;van de Poll et al, 2016;this study). This effect is widely believed to limit productivity in inner Kongsfjorden (Wiencke and Hop, 2016). However, our productivity estimates did not show consistent differences in water column productivity between inner and central Kongsfjorden, in spite of a shallower euphotic zone at station G. Observations in April and May showed a stronger contrast in irradiance attenuation and hydrographical conditions between central and inner Kongsfjorden (van de Poll et al, 2016), as compared to June.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 80%

Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen

Poll

Kulk

Rozema

et al. 2018

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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Glacial meltwater discharge in fjords on the west coast of Spitsbergen is increasing due to climate change. The influence of this discharge on phytoplankton nutrient limitation, composition, productivity and photophysiology was investigated in central (M) and inner (G) Kongsfjorden (79°N, 11°40’E). Freshwater influx intensified stratification during June 2015, coinciding with surface nutrient depletion. Surface nutrient concentrations were negatively correlated with stratification strength at station M. Here, nitrate addition assays revealed increasing N limitation of surface phytoplankton during the second half of June, which was followed by a pronounced compositional change within the flagellate-dominated phytoplankton community as dictyochophytes (85% of chl a) were replaced with smaller haptophytes (up to 60% of chlorophyll a) and prasinophytes (20% of chlorophyll a). These changes were less pronounced at station G, where surface phosphate, ammonium and nitrate concentrations were occasionally higher, and correlated with wind direction, suggesting wind-mediated transport of nutrient-enriched waters to this inner location. Therefore, glacial meltwater discharge mediated nutrient enrichment in the inner fjord, and enhanced stratification in inner and central Kongsfjorden. Surface chlorophyll a and water column productivity showed 3–4-fold variability, and did not correlate with nutrient limitation, euphotic zone depth, or changed taxonomic composition. However, the maximum carbon fixation rate and photosynthetic efficiency showed weak positive correlations to prasinophyte, cryptophyte, and haptophyte chlorophyll a. The present study documented relationships between stratification, N limitation, and changed phytoplankton composition, but surface chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton photosynthetic characteristics, and water column productivity in Kongsfjorden appeared to be driven by mechanisms other than N limitation.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 80%

Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen

Poll

Kulk

Rozema

et al. 2018

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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“…Both water mass type and the physicochemical factors within water masses influence picoeukaryote community distribution and diversity (Hamilton 2008;Zhang et al 2016). The Arctic is warming much faster than are other regions (Steele et al 2008;Serreze et al 2009;Polyakov et al 2010;Wiencke & Hop 2016), with accompanying changes in temperature, salinity and nutrient levels in seawater are also being altered, and rapid transformations in global circulation in response to climate change are likely. Hence, it is imperative to gain a better understanding of picoeukaryote community composition and diversity, as well as the extent to which physicochemical factors influence the microbial community and how these interactions will be affected by projected oceanographic changes (Hamilton 2008;Doney et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and environmental correlations of picoeukaryotes in an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard) during the summer

et al. 2019

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Picoeukaryotes are numerous in the summer in the High-Arctic fjord Kongsfjorden, in western Spitsbergen, Svalbard. However, little research has been conducted on the community structure and diversity of picoeukaryotes. We conducted a detailed investigation of the distribution and environmental correlations of picoeukaryotes in Kongsfjorden in July 2012, using 454-pyrosequencing of 18S rDNA and redundant analysis. Eight classes were classified with proportions larger than 1%. These were Mamiellophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Spirotrichea, Telonemea, Cryptophyceae, Bolidophyceae, Picomonadea and Dictyochophyceae. Five genera were classified, with Micromonas (55.6%) and Bathycoccus (7.8%) as the dominant genera. The diversity and composition of the picoeukaryote community were very distinct in different water masses sampled in the water column (i.e., vertically), but were not distinct from station to station (i.e., horizontally). Biodiversity was greater in the Atlantic waters than in glacial waters. Mamiellophyceae, Bolidophyceae, Picomonadea and Dictyochophyceae had significantly different distributions (p < 0.01) in the three water masses (surface water, intermediate water and transformed Atlantic Water). Nitrogen, salinity and temperature were the first three primary environmental factors shaping the community structure of picoeukaryotes.

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“…Land-fast sea ice extent has declined sharply especially in fjords on the west coast of Svalbard. This is partly due to intrusion of water from the West Spitsbergen Current (WSC) that penetrates into fjords on the west coast of Svalbard more frequently; the WSC is also warming [ 9 , 10 ]. Concomitantly, tidal glaciers in Svalbard are retracting [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitats and movement patterns of white whales Delphinapterus leucas in Svalbard, Norway in a changing climate

et al. 2018

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BackgroundThe Arctic is experiencing rapid reductions in sea ice and in some areas tidal glaciers are melting and retracting onto land. These changes are occurring at extremely rapid rates in the Northeast Atlantic Arctic. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of these environmental changes on space use by white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway. Using a unique biotelemetry data set involving 34 animals, spanning two decades, habitat use and movement patterns were compared before (1995–2001) and after (2013–2016) a dramatic change in the regional sea ice regime that began in 2006.ResultsWhite whales were extremely coastal in both study periods, remaining near the islands within the Svalbard Archipelago, even when winter sea ice formation pushed them offshore somewhat (later in the year in the recent period), into areas with drifting sea ice (concentrations up to 90%). In both periods, the whales followed the same basic patterns seasonally; they occupied the west coast in summer and shifted to the east coast as winter approached. However, space use did change between the two periods, with the whales spending less time close to tidal glacier fronts in the second period compared to the first (2nd-36% vs 1st-51%), a habitat characterized by low swimming speeds and high turning angles, and more time out in the fjords (2nd-26% vs1st-10%). Use of coastal transit corridors remained the same in both periods; the whales appear to minimize time spent moving between fjords.ConclusionsGlacier fronts have previously been shown to be important foraging areas for white whales in Svalbard and the movement metrics documented in this study confirms that this is still the case. However, use of the Fjords habitat in summer and fall (frequency of occupancy and movement metrics) seen in the recent period suggests that the white whales might now also be feeding on Atlantic prey that is increasingly common in the fjords, concomitant with influxes of Atlantic Water along the west coast of Svalbard. Such behavioural flexibility, if confirmed by further diet studies, would likely be important for white whales in adapting to new conditions in Svalbard.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s40462-018-0139-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Ecosystem Kongsfjorden: new views after more than a decade of research

Cited by 40 publications

References 60 publications

Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen

Contrasting glacial meltwater effects on post-bloom phytoplankton on temporal and spatial scales in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen

Distribution and environmental correlations of picoeukaryotes in an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard) during the summer

Habitats and movement patterns of white whales Delphinapterus leucas in Svalbard, Norway in a changing climate

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